Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers responded to a call on Center Hill Lake at 6:00 p.m. (CDT) Thursday evening, July 3, 2025. A 57-year-old Brentwood woman jumped into the water from a Monterey ski boat and was injured by the prop. The woman succumbed to her injuries and was transported to Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital.
The incident occurred near Hurricane Marina. DeKalb County Rescue, EMS, and Fire and Hurricane Marina staff also responded to the incident. The incident remains under investigation.
Meanwhile the DeKalb County Fire Department has issued the following statement about the accident:
The DeKalb County Fire Department, along with the Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, DeKalb County Emergency Medical Service, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, responded to a tragic single boat incident on Center Hill Lake near Hurricane Marina Thursday evening at approximately 5:58 p.m.
Emergency responders arrived and located the ski boat approximately 300 yards away from the marina near the main channel. An unconscious adult female victim was located in the water and under the boat trapped by the boat’s inboard engine propeller. The adult male operator of the boat was in the water at the rear of the boat attempting to rescue the victim. Rescue personnel were able to free the victim, but she had already succumbed to traumatic injury.
Emergency responders were assisted by staff from Hurricane Marina providing pontoon boats and traffic control. The Putnam County Rescue Squad responded with their Dive Team.
The incident is being investigated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The parties of those involved are from Brentwood, Tennessee and the names are not being released at this time. Please keep the family of the victim in your thoughts and prayers.